This is a major question that people ask themselves all the time while booking travel. The choice is ultimately up to you but there are a few things to keep in mind. Many health insurance carriers will not cover you when leaving the country (here in the USA). I have heard horror stories about people injured on their trip and needing a life flight back to the states causing them to be in debt of over $200,000. Yes, those cases are VERY extreme and VERY rare but are a possibility. Luggage can be lost, wallets can be stolen. Here in the Northeast, everyone wants to leave in the middle of the winter freeze but sometimes, the snow is too bad for planes to take off, making people late for a cruise or tour. There are many different reasons to consider the additional insurance.

One recommendation I can make is to check what your current insurance (both home and health) will cover and then look into the fine print of purchasing additional travel insurance. Pre-existing conditions may not be covered so make sure you know what you are buying. Travelex created a great video below that does a good job of laying out different situations of what they cover. They are a reliable company that we often use at our agency.

[Cleveland, OH] (August 24, 2014)– International luxury travel network, Virtuoso®, had cause for celebration at its annual Virtuoso Travel Week event – the Fashion Week of luxury travel – held recently at Bellagio Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Not only is the show the most prestigious event of its kind, but it attracted record attendance. On hand for the event was Jennifer Fried and Vicky DiMichele from Virtuoso-member agency, Traveline who joined more than 4,400 of the top executives and professionals in the business to take part in the luxury travel buying extravaganza.

Virtuoso Travel Week is known for its hallmark one-to-one appointments that take place between the network’s elite travel advisors and world’s-best travel providers. Fried and DiMichele participated in the event’s nearly 354,000 appointments, a staggering 2.69 years’ worth of meetings, treating the event as a “buying week” for Traveline’s discerning clientele. They took the opportunity to learn about new products and services, forge new relationships while strengthening existing ones, and participate in training sessions designed to improve the sales process. Each element of the conference was intended to lead to better travel experiences for consumers who do so under the guidance of a Virtuoso-affiliated travel advisor.

“Virtuoso Travel Week is the most important event of the year for me and my agency,” says DiMichele, Creative Director of Traveline. “The relationships I build through the event ensure our clients will travel almost anywhere in the world as a VIP, receiving benefits they can’t find elsewhere while being greeted like a lifelong friend. It’s an amazing opportunity to learn what’s new in travel, whether it’s the hottest, newly opened hotel or a destination that’s just coming into its own. Virtuoso Travel Week gives us an edge over my competitors and increases my value to my clients.”

During the week, Virtuoso also revealed the latest destination trends, showing where Virtuoso clients will be traveling in the next six months, including during the crucial winter months and holiday breaks.

The Virtuoso “Top 10”

Italy (+ 6%) Germany (+ 31%)

United Kingdom (+ 30%) Mexico (+ 17%)

France (+ 23%) South Africa (- 5%)

Canada (+ 9%) Netherlands (+ 18%)

Spain (+ 20%) Greece (57%)

Perhaps more enlightening, though, are the countries seeing the largest year-over-year growth.

Virtuoso’s “Hot List”

New Zealand (+ 196%) Croatia (+ 68%)

Chile (+ 103%) Australia (+ 58%)

Indonesia (+ 103%) Ecuador (+ 57%)

Hungary (+ 86%) Greece (+ 57%)

Hong Kong (+ 72%) Norway (+ 54%)

The group also revealed that Central Europe is experiencing a surge: Hungary (86%), Croatia (68%), Austria (48%), Poland (48%), and Czech Republic (23%). Russia, however, has seen a sharp decline, down 69%. Overall, travel to European countries is up by 23%.

For more information on luxury travel, Virtuoso Travel Week or the trends revealed, please contact Traveline at 1-888-700-8747 or vacation@traveline.com.

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About Traveline:

Founded in 1962 by Arline Kneen, Traveline is an Ohio based travel management company specializing in vacation travel, business travel, groups, meetings and incentives. Traveline’s affiliations with BCD Travel and Virtuoso, guarantee both leisure and corporate customers the tenure and experience for complex travel itineraries, business travel management solutions, and luxury vacation memories. Traveline builds strong relationships with our suppliers and clients through established travel knowledge, skilled planning, consultative guidance, and industry advocacy. Our advisors excel in providing services that are driven by both exceptional customer care and comprehensive travel expertise. For more information on Traveline, or to discuss what this can mean for advancing your current travel program, please contact us at vacation@traveline.com or sales@traveline.com.

About Virtuoso:

Virtuoso® is the industry’s leading luxury travel network. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 340 agencies with more than 8,900 elite travel specialists in 20 countries in North and South America, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, as well as over 1,700 of the world’s best travel providers and premier destinations. The network’s member agencies generate over $12.5 billion annually in travel sales, making the group the most powerful in the luxury travel segment. Their relationships with the finest travel companies provide the network’s affluent clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com. To view Virtuoso’s latest videos, go to www.youtube.com/user/VirtuosoTraveler.

TULIP TIME CRUISE7-night cruise through Holland & Belgium in the SpringU.S. Departure dates: March 31, April 1 & 8, 2013Starting from $2,299* per person, cruise only

Terms and Conditions: FREE COMPANION AIRFARE offer is valid for new FIT reservations made from November 1, 2012 and booked and deposited by December 31, 2012. FREE COMPANION AIRFARE offer is not combinable with any other offers/discounts including group offers. FREE COMPANION AIRFARE promotion is based on round-trip, trans-Atlantic economy airfare departing from all U.S. cities. FREE COMPANION AIRFARE promotion applies only to the travel dates, arrival city and departure city specified in each published itinerary. Custom itineraries, itinerary requests and schedule deviations are not accepted on this promotion, carrier will be confirmed by AmaWaterways and cannot be substituted. FREE COMPANION AIRFARE is only available with the purchase of applicable Tulip Time river cruises, and includes the roundtrip trans-Atlantic base ticket price, fuel surcharges and taxes for the second passenger. FREE COMPANION AIRFARE applies to second passenger and requires purchase of airfare for the first passenger solely from AmaWaterways. The airfare for the first passenger is $1,099 from any city in the U.S. and includes taxes and fuel surcharges. Once booked air is accepted, air itinerary and a written invoice will follow to guarantee the price for 7 days. Additional luggage fees and other ancillary charges imposed by the carrier may apply and can be found on the carrier’s website. Full payment is required at the time of deposit to secure the promotional fare. Offer is capacity-controlled and subject to be withdrawn without notice, air space is limited. All prices listed are in U.S. dollars and are based on double-occupancy in a Category E stateroom cruise only. Stateroom upgrades, port charges of $147 per person are additional. Other restrictions may apply. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. CST#2065452-40.

River Cruise Line “Doubles Down” Live Auction Contribution at L.A. Nonprofit’s Black-Tie Gala

CHATSWORTH, CA (Nov. 20, 2012) – In recognition of the 125th anniversary of the California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC), AmaWaterways donated two 7-night Paris & Normandy river cruises to benefit the nonprofit at its recent black-tie gala, the 22nd Annual La Grande Affair. The event was attended by more than 500 of Los Angeles’ top business and community leaders, with proceeds to benefit the Los Angeles Center for Heart Health at the California Hospital Medical Center.

The Nov. 15th, 2012 event at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles featured a cocktail reception, a five-course gourmet dinner created by Southern California members of the Club Culinaire of French Cuisine, wines selected by Bruno Laclotte, a live auction and silent auction, plus live musical entertainment. One of L.A.’s premier social events, the annual gala celebrates the international release of Beaujolis Nouveau wine from France.

“As a family owned and operated business, we feel it’s very important to give back to the local community and make a difference in our own backyard,” said AmaWaterways Vice President of Marketing Rob Rothmann. “We’re so honored to have this opportunity to support the outstanding work of the California Hospital Medical Center and its plans to expand its much-needed cardiac care program.”

During the evening’s live auction, two bidders amicably battled it out over an AmaWaterways Paris & Normandy cruise for two. Rothmann stepped in and made an on-the-spot decision to contribute a second cruise. “There’s no better way to see Europe than on one of our state-of-the-art river cruise ships. This is one of our newest itineraries and it’s great to see how excited people are about it,” Rothmann said. “Donating another cruise was truly a win-win for everyone, as it raised a significant amount of money for a good cause. The California Hospital Medical Center benefits, their heart patients benefit, and two lucky bidders and their guests can now enjoy a fantastic voyage courtesy of AmaWaterways.”

Amawaterways 7-night Paris & Normandycruise on theSeine River includes visits to the village of Giverny, where artist Claude Monet spent decades cultivating his iconic water gardens; Honfleur, a charming French harbor town made famous by generations of artists; Rouen, the historic capital of Normandy; an excursion to Normandy’s D-Day beaches; the charming town of Les Andelys; and two nights in Paris. The cruise embarks aboard the AmaLegro, which offers spacious staterooms and suites, most with French Balconies, as well as Chaîne des Rôtisseurs culinary creations, free-flowing wine and beer at every dinner, unforgettable shore excursions, flat-panel TVs and an in-room Infotainment System featuring hit movies, music channels and complimentary Internet access, live nightly entertainment, onboard salon and spa services and much more. AmaWaterways even provides a complimentary fleet of bicycles for guests to use on their own or on a guided bike tour.

To download AmaWaterways 2012 and 2013 brochures or for more information, visit www.amawaterways.com. To book a river cruise, please contact a professional travel agent. Travelers may also Like Us on Facebook and Follow Us on Twitter.

About AmaWaterways

Founded in 2002 by river cruise pioneer Rudi Schreiner, river cruise executive Kristin Karst and founder of Brendan Vacations, Jimmy Murphy, AmaWaterways is the premier river cruise line on Europe’s Danube, Rhine, Main, Mosel, Seine and Rhône rivers. Known for its custom-designed ships, extensive complimentary amenities and personalized service levels, AmaWaterways consistently leads the way in river cruising. With destinations traveling through Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia, and new voyages to Africa and Portugal the line’s award-winning fleets compliment a variety of travel plans.

The Europe fleet includes the AmaPrima (2013); AmaCerto (2012); AmaVerde (2011); AmaBella (2010); AmaLyra (2009); AmaDolce (2009); AmaCello (2008), AmaDante (2008); AmaLegro (2007) and the AmaDagio (2006). In the spring of 2012, AmaWaterways introduced the new 164-passenger AmaCerto in Europe, joining the AmaVerde and AmaBella in offering an exclusive Twin Balcony design in the majority of staterooms; multiple dining venues; complimentary Internet and Infotainment system, a heated swimming pool or whirlpool on the Sun Deck plus many more unique design elements.

In addition to the European destinations, AmaWaterways offers the separate and distinct AmaVoyages to Vietnam and Cambodia via the AmaLotus (2011) and the La Marguerite (2009); Russia via the AmaKatarina (2011); Portugal via the AmaVida (2013); and Africa via the Zambezi Queen (2009).